Magnesium Supplementation Lowers Blood Pressure in Hypertension, reveals research
Researchers have established in a new study that supplementation with magnesium lowers blood pressure (BP) among hypertensive and hypomagnesemic patients substantially but to a lesser extent in normotensive subjects. The research was published in the journal of Hypertension by Zoe A. and colleagues.
Investigators conducted a meta-analysis and dose-response analysis of randomized controlled trials lasting at least 4 weeks. A total of 38 trials, including 2,709 participants, were analyzed. The elemental magnesium dose in the studies ranged from 82.3 mg to 637 mg, with a median daily dose of 365 mg, and the median intervention period was 12 weeks. Statistical analysis with cubic spline regression was conducted and outcomes were combined using random-effects meta-analysis.
Results
• As a whole, magnesium supplementation was linked to a -2.81 mm Hg (95% CI, -4.32 to -1.29) systolic BP decrease and a -2.05 mm Hg (95% CI, -3.23 to -0.88) diastolic BP decrease compared with placebo.
• Hypertensive patients on BP-lowering medication: systolic BP fell by -7.68 mm Hg, diastolic BP by -2.96 mm Hg (P<0.05).
• Patients with hypomagnesemia: systolic BP fell by -5.97 mm Hg, diastolic BP by -4.75 mm Hg (P<0.05).
• Conversely, in normotensive groups, decreases did not achieve statistical significance. Notably, no dose-response was found between magnesium supplementation and BP change (all P ≥ 0.20), and high heterogeneity was detected between trials.
But since no dose-response pattern is evident and high variability exists across trials, intake of magnesium cannot be viewed as a standardized therapy yet. Based on the conclusion of the study, magnesium supplementation is associated with a decrease in blood pressure in hypertensive and hypomagnesemia populations but not in normotensive individuals. Due to high heterogeneity between studies, larger well-conducted clinical trials are required to clarify the dose-response association and establish the best supplementation regimens for different subgroups.
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